Dr. Jenny Laster earned Doctoral Degree at 76, lived a life of service

By Holly Jenkins-LiversDr. Jenny C. Laster, PhD, who received her Doctoral Degree at the age of 76 and lived a life filled with community service, died January 11, 2025, in Cincinnati. Earning her her Doctoral Degree was her dream, and it is no surprise to those who knew her that she brought that dream to fruition. What a feat.It is only fitting that she chronicled her journey of learning to read when she was 4 years old in the segregated township of Meacham Park, Missouri, in the 1940s, to excelling at the highest levels in the academic and corporate arenas and being honored by President Obama.Dr. Laster has amassed a wall of plagues, trophies, citations and awards. You would be hard pressed to find anyone in the Greater Cincinnati area who does not know the name Jenny Laster.In her 2022 book, Jenny shared her personal story. She speaks of how her family collectively determined that “Skinny Jenny,” as she was nicknamed, would indeed have all the education and support she needed to accomplish her dreams. They all cleaned houses, scrubbing and mopping floors for a living.  They did not want that for Jenny. Her grandmother told her, “I mopped floors,...